Ghosal's success story on return after retirement

"I can't believe you're doing this all over again!" former world champion from Egypt Tarek Momen texted Saurav Ghosal on Sunday.

- Susan Ninan

BENGALURU: It was the night the 38-year-old Indian won the Octane Sydney Classic, a PSA Challenger title, on his comeback from retirement. His eleventh PSA title. It came a year after his last PSA appearance at the Windy City Open in Chicago in February 2024.

Saurav—the first Indian male player to break into the top 10, had announced his retirement in April last year after over two decades on the PSA Tour. By the close of the year, he was prepping to create geometric angles and haul his body across the court all over again. The goal—Los Angeles 2028, when squash will make its Olympic debut. For someone who spent decades on the Tour dreaming, wishing, and campaigning for the sport's Olympic inclusion, it seemed too huge a moment to give up without giving it a shot. It's still three years away and Saurav is under no delusion about his age.

The immediate goal, Asian Games, is little more than a year away.